Ben Coughlan

Practice areas

Personal Injury – General: Plaintiff, Civil Litigation: Plaintiff, Employment Litigation: Plaintiff, Personal Injury – Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff, Personal Injury – Products: Plaintiff

Focus areas

Birth Injury, Brain Injury, Medical Malpractice, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Motor Vehicle Defects, Personal Injury – Plaintiff, Premises Liability – Plaintiff, Sexual Abuse – Plaintiff, Slip and Fall, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death

Ben Coughlan, a founding partner at Coughlan & Vinel, a law firm situated in San Diego, California, is an accomplished trial attorney who specializes in a range of legal areas. His primary focus includes:

• Handling cases involving road accidents and motor vehicle incidents
• Representing clients in employment and public entity litigation
• Addressing matters related to birth injuries
• Managing premises liability cases
• Navigating medical malpractice claims
• Dealing with slip-and-fall injury cases
• Advocating for victims of sexual abuse, misconduct, and STD transmission
• Pursuing wrongful death claims

Committed to championing the rights of those affected by negligence and injustices, Mr. Coughlan also manages toxic torts and whistleblower lawsuits. He dedicates personalized attention to every case, effectively conveying his clients’ stories and achieving the desired outcomes. With nearly ten years of experience in various types of personal injury litigation, including high-profile cases, he draws from a wealth of expertise gained from working at a prominent plaintiff’s firm before establishing his own practice.

Mr. Coughlan’s involvement extends beyond his legal practice. He serves as an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego School of Law, imparting invaluable wisdom to aspiring lawyers. Moreover, he contributes to the National Institute for Trial Advocacy as a trainer for trial and deposition skills. Elected as the president of the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, he also holds the role of editor for the Tort Law Section of Trial Bar News.

Demonstrating specialized knowledge in cases involving brain and spinal cord injuries, Mr. Coughlan is a published author, having co-authored and edited the book “Journey Towards Recovery: A Brain Injury Guide for Survivors.” He frequently participates in seminars and speaking engagements on these topics to benefit the community.

Mr. Coughlan’s academic journey includes graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism in Illinois. He earned his Juris Doctor in 2012 from the University of San Diego School of Law. Before embarking on his legal career, he gained experience in the media relations department of the San Diego Padres.

Recognized for his exceptional professional achievements, Mr. Coughlan has earned several notable distinctions, including being listed in San Diego Metro Magazine’s Top 10 Attorneys Overall and 40 Under 40. He has also been acknowledged as one of America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys, a member of The National Trial Lawyers’ 40 Under 40, and featured in the San Diego Reader’s Top Attorneys list. He holds an AV Preeminent* rating through Martindale-Hubbell and has achieved a perfect 10 rating on Avvo.

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished, and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with Martindale-Hubbell’s certification procedures, standards, and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® facilitates a peer-review rating process that reflects the anonymous opinions of members of the legal bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ encompass two categories: legal ability and general ethical standards.